Combined Force Kills Insurgent, Detains Suspects

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2011 - A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed an armed insurgent and detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban leader in the Zurmat district of Afghanistan's Paktia province yesterday, military officials reported.

The insurgent leader builds and stores roadside bombs and other weapons, and also is responsible for leading insurgent attacks against Afghan forces in the Zurmat and Gardez districts. The security force confiscated rifles and grenades.

In other operations yesterday:

-- In the Qalat district of Zabul province, a combined force detained two suspects while searching for a Taliban leader who coordinates the placement of roadside bombs and plans attacks against coalition forces. Bomb-making materials were confiscated.

-- A combined force detained several suspects while searching in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province for a Taliban leader who acquires heavy munitions for insurgents and coordinates ambushes.

-- A combined force detained several suspects and confiscated a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, RPGs, assault rifles, ammunition pouches and fragmentation grenades during a search for a Haqqani network facilitator in the Pul-e Alam district of Logar province.

-- In the Sayyid Karam district of Paktia province, a combined force detained two suspects during a search for a Haqqani network leader who coordinates roadside-bomb attacks in the Gardez district.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban leader who attacks Afghan forces and detained several suspects in the Chak-e Wardak district of Wardak province.

-- In the Bala Boluk district of Farah province, a combined patrol seized 220 pounds of explosives, a mortar system, a heavy machine gun, RPGs, small-arms ammunition and bomb components.

-- Combined forces killed an insurgent and detained 18 suspects during operations in eastern Afghanistan. The insurgent was killed and three others were detained by coalition forces in the Sobari district of Khost province. Coalition forces detained seven people in the Zurmat district of Paktia province, four in the province's Zurmat district and two in the Dand Patan district. Coalition forces detained a suspect in Nangahar province's Rodat district, and Afghan soldiers detained another in Paktia province's Gardez district.

In Nimroz province Oct. 25, a combined force detained two suspects and seized explosives and bomb-making components in the Khash Rod district.